WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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Episode 34: Na Yuk-hyeong of the Paeung Temple (Part 2)
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“Quickly!”
The moment So WoonHwi darted alone toward Na Yuk-hyeong of the Paeung Temple, SaMa Yeong's thoughts raced ahead.
She had entered the Central Plains martial world without her father's knowledge.
For the first time, she had met an enemy who made her feel her life was truly in danger.
To make matters worse, the enemy had retainers worthy of being called masters.
‘This is dangerous.’
So WoonHwi's judgment was correct.
It would be foolish for everyone to face that one person now.
Even if they somehow dealt with Na Yuk-hyeong, they might not have the strength left to handle the remaining enemies.
Having thought that far, she acted at once.
Whoosh!
Darting forward, she swung her sword at Na Yuk-hyeong's retainers.
She targeted the one with the strongest presence among them.
He was Myeong Jeong, a middle-aged man in his thirties with slitted eyes and Na Yuk-hyeong's disciple.
An Expert, he had learned the art of wielding a whip from his master.
Myeong Jeong sneered at her.
Had she truly made the foolish choice of charging at him of all people?
“Fool.”
Myeong Jeong swung his whip, intending to keep SaMa Yeong from getting close.
But her movements surpassed his expectations.
Moon-Evil Sword SaMa Chak's unique step focused entirely on deceiving and bewildering an opponent's vision.
SaMa Yeong vanished from Myeong Jeong's sight.
‘She's gone?’
She had disappeared before his eyes.
She had merely moved beyond the range of his vision.
Myeong Jeong hastily turned his whip toward the sound.
Whirr-r-r-r!
The whip coiled as it spun, rushing toward the sound like a snake.
Myeong Jeong naturally assumed she would retreat.
Yet SaMa Yeong slid across the ground where the sound had come from, slipping in with an extremely low stance.
Her sword aimed for Myeong Jeong's ankle.
“Huh?”
Without time to think, Myeong Jeong leaped upward.
At that very moment, he experienced the worst pain of his life.
Thrust!
‘!!!’
Her sword curved as though that had been her target from the beginning, piercing him in the groin.
“Arghhhhh!”
Of all places, he had been struck there.
Myeong Jeong's body faltered from pain beyond words.
At that instant, her sword pierced his chin and burst through the crown of his head.
“Ghk!”
With a final scream, Myeong Jeong died on the spot.
Who would have expected Na Yuk-hyeong of the Paeung Temple's foremost disciple to be killed by an unknown person he had never even heard of?
Na Yuk-hyeong's retainers were left speechless for a moment.
SaMa Yeong provoked them.
“I don't have time, so come at me all at once.”
“Y-you bastard!”
“Kill him!”
Na Yuk-hyeong's retainers attacked her together.
Even in that perilous situation, SaMa Yeong did not shrink back in the slightest as she faced the enemies.
‘Ha...’
Jo SeongWon could only click their tongue at the sight.
During their sparring matches, Jo SeongWon had known that every one of SaMa Yeong's techniques focused completely on killing her opponent, but had not realized it was to this extent.
Stabbing out enemies' eyes was nothing unusual for her.
[What are you doing? Hurry, or the Deputy Brigade Leader will be in danger!]
At her sound telepathy, Jo SeongWon seemed to snap out of it and darted toward the enemies.
* * *
Whoooosh!
Steam rose from my entire body.
It was caused by my blood circulating rapidly, raising my body temperature until the moisture within me evaporated.
Only someone with a special constitution could master the Golden Blood Body.
To endure it, their body also had to be developed to a far greater degree.
Unlike Evil Heaven or the twins, I would not be able to use this in actual combat for even a quarter of a gak.
“What in the world is that...?”
Of course he would be puzzled.
It was not an ability he had ever seen from the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster.
Without delay, I darted toward Na Yuk-hyeong.
The combination of the fifth-level Stellar Star Mystic Art and the Golden Blood Body gave me an explosive increase in power.
Whoosh!
My body shot forward in an instant.
Even I could hardly believe how much faster I was moving.
But my opponent was Na Yuk-hyeong of the Paeung Temple.
“Hmph!”
Na Yuk-hyeong swung his whip at me.
The whip swept through the air like rolling waves.
How many weapons could command such a broad range?
‘True Flowing Loach Form Sword!’
The third technique of the True Stellar Star Sword Art, Flowing Loach Form Sword.
My sword bent into eight arcs, extending like supple willow boughs.
The whip, crashing in like waves, collided with my sword technique.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Na Yuk-hyeong's whip bent freely like a moving snake, deflecting the Flowing Loach Form Sword's strikes.
My sword was flexible, but could it be more flexible than a whip?
In a clash of softness against softness, I was at a disadvantage.
Believing he had gained the upper hand in technique, the softly bending whip rose upward before crashing down with tyrannical force like a dragon lashing its tail.
I held my sword at a slant and blocked it.
Then I relaxed my body, bent my legs, and launched myself like a spring.
‘True Submerged Clam Duke Sword!’
The second technique of the Stellar Star Sword Art, Submerged Clam Duke Sword.
It was a sword technique that turned an opponent's attack back against them.
Bang!
Normally, the technique should have continued from there, but the whip's force was too strong. With the distance between us, I had no choice but to dart forward.
Whoosh!
Whirr-r-r-r!
The instant I moved, the whip whirled around him to protect his body.
It was astonishing that he could wield a whip this way.
Still, I had to find an opening somehow.
- Strike it.
The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword spoke to me.
I had been thinking the same thing, so I swung my sword at the swirling whip with tenth-level Force of ki.
“You think you can break through?”
The whip spun even faster.
Clang!
The instant my sword collided with the whip, a strange metallic sound rang out.
At the same time, the spinning whip wrapped around my sword.
Na Yuk-hyeong's eyes widened.
“Ho?”
I was inwardly surprised as well.
I had not been certain because I was inferior in Force of ki, but the Golden Blood Body had strengthened my body enough to withstand the force contained in the whip.
Still, my feet had slid back more than one step.
The gap had clearly narrowed from before, but Na Yuk-hyeong still held the advantage in Force of ki.
‘Still, I can manage this.’
At least now I could exchange blows with him.
If the difference was overwhelming, there was no answer when an opponent simply pressed forward with Force of ki.
- Hurry, Un Hwi. The Golden Blood Body places a heavy burden on the body.
‘I know.’
The time I could maintain the Golden Blood Body was short.
Moreover, once it ended, my body would be overloaded.
‘I have to free it.’
To free the whip wrapped around my sword and attack Na Yuk-hyeong, I unleashed the sixth technique of the Stellar Star Sword Art.
‘True Pursuing Lesser Return Sword!’
I stomped the ground hard.
Then, from a thrusting stance, I pulled my sword back and twisted my hand to the left.
The whip wrapped around the sword began to unwind as the sword spun.
At that moment,
Smack!
‘Ghk!’
Before it could even come free, Na Yuk-hyeong violently pulled the whip.
He must have also exerted tenth-level Force of ki, because my body rose into the air and was dragged toward him.
“Caught you, brat.”
Na Yuk-hyeong's left hand took the form of a Claw Technique like an eagle's talons, reaching to seize my heart.
- Un Hwi!
I swiftly drew the SoDam Sword with my left hand.
Then I unleashed the Eight Light Short Sword Technique.
Na Yuk-hyeong's left hand, which had been using the Claw Technique, shifted its movement to evade the short sword before cleverly targeting my wrist.
Smack!
A sharp pain shot through me, and I dropped the SoDam Sword.
- Ah!
Like lightning, Na Yuk-hyeong kicked the falling SoDam Sword aside.
The SoDam Sword flew away from his kick.
“As expected, you are only a greenhorn.”
Na Yuk-hyeong curled his lips into a cruel smile and sent the Claw Technique at my chest again.
That was when it happened.
Shrrrk!
Na Yuk-hyeong's eyes trembled.
A thin, glittering thread was reflected in his pupils.
Startled, he hurriedly used his step to leap sideways.
Slice!
At the same time, something grazed past his ear.
It was the SoDam Sword.
‘Tch.’
The instant the SoDam Sword flew away, I cast out the Silver Thread, hooked the sword hilt, and pulled it.
But unfortunately, my decisive move failed.
Brush.
Touching the edge of his slightly cut ear, Na Yuk-hyeong wore an incredulous expression.
“What in the world are you?”
That was what I wanted to ask.
He really was a monster.
To see through the Silver Thread targeting his blind spot in that brief instant.
I urgently sent the SoDam Sword flying toward him.
Whoosh!
I had practiced endlessly to use the Shadow-Flashing Flying Dagger Art with my left hand.
This was the chance to see how well it worked in actual combat.
“Hmph!”
As the SoDam Sword flew at him, Na Yuk-hyeong swiftly tried to catch it.
At that moment, I extended my arm to the side, then pulled it back.
Smack! Smack!
The SoDam Sword's trajectory shifted twice in midair, evading his Claw Technique and turning toward his left thigh.
Had I trained it further, I could have added more variations, but this was my limit for now.
Na Yuk-hyeong hurriedly pulled his whip.
‘Damn!’
The pull dragged my body along with the sword, causing the SoDam Sword to miss.
I once again poured innate life energy into the Silver Thread and pulled it.
The SoDam Sword flew at his back.
Shrrrk!
“You think the same trick will work twice?”
Na Yuk-hyeong swiftly spun and kicked the SoDam Sword upward.
Then he struck a hand blade at the Silver Thread.
“I'll cut it!”
Ting!
‘!?’
Na Yuk-hyeong's eyes widened.
I had been anxious, but even his profound Force of ki could not cut the Silver Thread.
“This is no ordinary cord.”
Na Yuk-hyeong was astonished by the Silver Thread's resilience.
But then he grabbed the Silver Thread and tried to pull it free.
Thud!
I did not miss that opportunity and entrusted my body to the force with which he was pulling.
“Huh?”
The instant we closed the distance, I stomped the ground hard and unleashed True Pursuing Lesser Return Sword once more.
Whirl!
The sword spun, freeing the whip that had been half wrapped around it.
Then the Pursuing Lesser Return Sword swept toward Na Yuk-hyeong's head like a storm.
Na Yuk-hyeong, who had been pulling the Silver Thread, hurriedly leaned back and slashed diagonally downward with his right hand.
Smack! Slice!
At that moment, the freed whip writhed and struck my right calf, the leg I had stomped down with.
“Ghh!”
It felt as though my leg had been severed.
Fortunately, the Golden Blood Body protected my body, so it was not cut off.
I gritted my teeth and unleashed the technique, but my body twisted and the Pursuing Lesser Return Sword missed.
‘Damn it!’
He had evaded the technique with only a slight movement of his head.
He had calculated that in such a brief instant.
“I've got you at last!”
Seizing that opening, Na Yuk-hyeong kicked me in the chest.
Thud!
“Urgh!”
Pain like my organs were being turned inside out sent me flying backward.
Na Yuk-hyeong pulled his whip, intending to dart toward me.
At that instant, I poured innate life energy into the Silver Thread.
Shrrk! Thrust!
“Ghk!”
The Silver Thread reeled in, driving the SoDam Sword into his back.
Even he could not evade something that happened in an instant.
Yet the moment the SoDam Sword lodged in his back, he threw himself forward to prevent it from piercing deeply.
“You damned little brat!”
With an angry shout, he pulled out the SoDam Sword and threw it at me.
I hurriedly bent backward to evade the SoDam Sword flying at tremendous speed.
Paeeng!
The SoDam Sword caught on the Silver Thread flew backward, then stopped.
But because it carried Na Yuk-hyeong's Force of ki, my left arm was dragged back, and I had to spin sharply to dispel the momentum.
Smack-smack-smack-smack-smack!
“Ghk!”
After barely killing the momentum, I landed on the ground.
Dizziness washed over me.
“Huff... Huff...”
My breathing grew ragged.
My mouth was so dry that I could not even swallow.
I was gradually reaching the limit of how long I could maintain the Golden Blood Body.
‘Damn it.’
Na Yuk-hyeong was clearly different from the enemies I had faced until now.
As a Master who had reached the peak of his realm, he countered all my attacks in countless ways.
Who knew experience could make such an enormous difference?
He was too difficult an opponent.
Na Yuk-hyeong's lips curled upward.
“You have reached your limit after all.”
He had noticed my condition from my ragged breathing.
Then he widened the distance between us.
It seemed he intended to stall until the Golden Blood Body reached its limit.
Despite possessing greater skill than I did, he was thorough.
Na Yuk-hyeong sneered.
“Are you truly the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster's disciple? The symptoms arising in your body... It is as though I am seeing Bizarre Oddity's Golden Blood Body.”
‘!?’
He had recognized the Golden Blood Body.
I knew he was a master from the same generation as the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster and Evil Heaven, but I had not expected him to identify it so quickly.
When I remained silent and regulated my breathing, his eyes narrowed.
“Who exactly are you? How can you possess, in one body, the abilities of the greatest masters who vanished from both justice and evil?”
“Huff... Huff... I have no obligation to answer. But if you kneel before me, I might consider telling you.”
I deliberately provoked him.
If he kept his distance and continued attacking with his whip, I would inevitably be at a disadvantage.
Na Yuk-hyeong muttered in a murderous voice.
“Hmph! It does not matter. Once I cut off all four of your limbs and leave only your mouth, I can find out whenever I please.”
As expected of an evil man of the force of evil, such dreadful words came easily from his mouth.
I focused my strength as much as possible.
If I let my guard down even slightly, I would surely be struck.
Then Na Yuk-hyeong's expression hardened.
“What is this?”
His gaze was directed toward where SaMa Yeong and Jo SeongWon were fighting Na Yuk-hyeong's retainers.
While I had been intensely fighting him, more than half of his retainers had been killed.
I had watched Na Yuk-hyeong from the corner of my eye to keep him in check, and SaMa Yeong was moving freely among the enemies, killing them one by one.
She truly was Moon-Evil Sword SaMa Chak's only daughter.
Crunch!
Na Yuk-hyeong's expression twisted savagely at the sight of someone who had fallen.
It seemed to be a retainer or disciple he valued.
His anger should have made him lose his composure, yet his eyes did not leave SaMa Yeong as she used vicious, peerless sword techniques.
He looked between SaMa Yeong and me.
“So this was what you were relying on.”
He must have judged that, with her swordsmanship, all of his retainers would soon die. Na Yuk-hyeong's manner changed, having previously intended to stall for time.
It seemed he intended to settle the match.
“To think I would have to use a secret art against a greenhorn like you, rather than Hoh JongDae.”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Na Yuk-hyeong began spinning the whip in his hand from side to side.
The whip, turning in the shape of an infinity symbol, grew steadily faster. The ground it touched began to crumble as though it were tofu.
There was not a single opening in that whip, which had become both offense and defense.
If my body were caught in that, I would be torn apart like pieces of meat.
My hands and feet trembled.
The fear that I could die if things went wrong.
It was a lie to say I was not afraid because I had died once before.
Then the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword's voice sounded in my mind.
- Un Hwi. Did you say memories take but an instant?
‘?’
At that moment, blue light rippled from the Heavenly Pearl's mark on the back of my hand.
My vision wavered, and the scene before me changed.
I saw Na Yuk-hyeong looking far younger than he did now, using the same infinity-shaped secret art.
‘This is...’
- Focus.
No sooner had the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword finished speaking than the younger Na Yuk-hyeong shot forward at terrifying speed.
The clash that followed.
The match was decided in an instant.
‘Ah!’
The scene before me changed, and I returned to the moment before Na Yuk-hyeong used the secret art.
The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword spoke to me.
- Endure it, Un Hwi.
Understanding its intention, I silently focused on its memories.
In my current condition, I could not maintain the Heavenly Pearl, but the past battle between the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster and Na Yuk-hyeong was my only clue to winning.
Once, twice, three times, four times, five times.
“Cough.”
My insides twisted, and blood flowed from my mouth.
This was the limit for my exhausted body after using the Golden Blood Body.
Heavenly Pearl scattered like smoke, and I returned to reality.
Through the terrifyingly spinning whip, I saw Na Yuk-hyeong's lips curling upward.
He seemed certain of victory at the sight of me bleeding.
“I'll kill you!”
Na Yuk-hyeong's body shot forward with the force of a storm.
The wind pressure alone felt as though it would send me flying.
It held far greater power than the secret art in the memories I had seen six times.
‘Focus. I have to focus.’
I stared solely at the center.
The center of the rotation.
That tiny gap.
Whoosh!
As though rushing toward death, I launched myself at Na Yuk-hyeong's secret art.
Then, drawing on tenth-level Force of ki, I thrust my sword into the center of the rotation without a moment's hesitation.
Smack-smack-smack-smack-smack-smack!
“Grrrgh!”
The hand holding my sword shook violently, as though the flesh would be torn away.
Still holding on, I gritted my teeth and stomped down hard.
‘Reverse Pursuing Lesser Return Sword!’
I had never performed it before, but I had absorbed the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster's memories six times.
As my sword spun in the opposite direction, cracks formed in the rotation of the whip that had raged like a typhoon in the shape of an infinity symbol.
Smack-smack-smack-smack-smack!
The instant I drove my sword forward, the whip that had spun so terrifyingly came to a halt.
Na Yuk-hyeong's eyes shook.
Had he seen the shadow of the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster in my sword?
Then his eyes flashed, and he smiled.
“Did you think I had not corrected my secret art's weakness?”
With those words, he tried to spin his right hand holding the whip in the opposite direction.
At that moment, I violently pulled my left hand.
Smack!
The whip that had been about to spin stopped midway.
Crack!
“Ghh!”
It felt as if my left shoulder had been ripped from its socket.
“What?”
Na Yuk-hyeong could not hide his bewilderment at the whip suddenly stopping.
The Silver Thread was tangled around the tip of his whip.
Because of that, I had to withstand his immense Force of ki with one arm, and my left arm was dislocated.
- Now!
Though I was in pain, this was my only chance.
I used every last bit of strength I had to thrust my sword toward his one remaining eye.
Whoosh!
“Ghk!”
The scene unfolded just as it had in the past. Na Yuk-hyeong turned pale, released even the hand holding the whip, and threw himself backward.
At that very instant, my body skimmed horizontally like a hawk and caught up to him in one breath.
Na Yuk-hyeong's one remaining eye widened.
“N-no!”
Startled by the Body-Lightening Technique that had caught up to him in an instant, he tried to raise his hand, but it was already too late.
My sword pierced his one remaining eye.
Thrust!
“Arghhhhhhh!”
A scream like a wail erupted from Na Yuk-hyeong's mouth as his eye was pierced.
I exerted more force, trying to drive my sword straight through his face.
Smack!
Then Na Yuk-hyeong seized the sword embedded in his eye.
Was it a final burst before death?
The hand gripping the sword did not budge.
“Grrrgh! You bastard! Let's die together!”
In that state, he reached his hand toward my face.
With my left arm dislocated, I had no strength left to stop his final struggle.
For a dizzying moment, I thought it would end with both of us grievously wounded.
That was when it happened.
Slice!
“Ghk!”
A final scream rang out.
Then his hand stopped right before my face.
The hand that had trembled as though convulsing soon fell limp.
‘!?’
As the hand blocking my view fell, I saw blood spraying from a severed head before me.
Behind it stood SaMa Yeong, her entire body covered in wounds, holding a sword soaked in blood.
‘Ha!’
She had appeared at the perfect moment and cut off Na Yuk-hyeong's head.
SaMa Yeong, breathing heavily from exhaustion, gave me a bright smile.
“I wasn't too late, was I?”
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